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Thanks for including the link to the platform committee; here is what I sent to the Democratic Platform Committee:-——————————
July 5, 2016

Dear Democratic Platform Committee:

Too often I see written that our position should be to encourage Israel and Palestinian representatives to get back to the negotiating table. This strategy not only is doomed to failure, as has clearly been the case in the past, this is a strategy that does not promote American values of Equality, Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

Rather than potentially bringing peace to the Middle East, our position has been one of supporting a government with racist, brutal policies. Unlike other unfortunate situations around the world, the United States’ is complicit with our financial, military and political positions which have continued to support injustice, violation of human rights, and terrorism.

It is time that the Democratic Party take a position of telling the truth and standing by American values as well as fighting terrorism by fighting injustice.

Just like it would have been ridiculous to have African-American leaders negotiate with the states of Mississippi or Alabama in the 1950s without first requiring that all people’s equal rights be recognized and enforced, it is ridiculous for us to encourage Palestinians to negotiate with Israel before the Gaza Blockade and West Bank settlement construction are ended and before the United States recognizes Palestine in the United Nations as it does Israel.

The Democratic Platform Committee needs to show that it truly stands for democracy and equality rather than racism and misinformation. Please add to the Democratic Platform that the Democratic Party stands for equality and human rights by immediately recognizing Palestine in the United Nations, that it demands the end of the blockade of Gaza and freedom for Gazans (since Israel claims it no longer occupies that territory) and the cessation of settlement construction and land appropriation from Arabs in the West Bank. We should recognize the need for security and freedom for all people, not just some based on ethnicity.

Thank you.

Jack Dresser commented
2016-06-18 23:02:40 -0400

The statement would be a start but is still a little weak, since more is necessary than simply ending the occupation. The BDS movement also demands equal rights for non-Jews in Israel where they are subjected to discrimination in virtually every area of life under more than 50 laws denying them equality. Another demand is the right of return, which is the primary obstacle to solution since it would eliminate Jewish majority and transform historic Palestine into a normal multi-ethnic state without Jewish supremacy and privilege. The universally recognized spiritual act of atonement requires this, along with restitution for the death and destruction Israel has inflicted. Only through such atonement can Israeli crimes be redeemed and a new state with a new identity established that would serve to stabilize the Middle East as IDF General Matti Peled once envisioned in 1967.

Becca Rhodes commented
2016-06-18 17:26:22 -0400

The atrocities that have been going on have got to stop .. .. We boycotted South Africa when they were an apartheid state so why is it ok for one and not the other . Our policticians are sell outs to the likes of AIPAC get rid of AIPAC would be one less problem . Time to man up we know what is going one we are not blind deaf and dumb . Justice delayed is justice denied for the victims of PALESTINE . Palestine was stolen by israel with th UK and the United States . Don’t get me started on the so called United Nations and their lack of leadership .

ignasi orobitg gene commented
2016-06-17 14:18:13 -0400

Hatred of the government of Israel to the Arabs of Palestine is a cancer
the People of Israel

William Thomas commented
2016-06-17 13:57:22 -0400

As a Veteran for Peace who has visited Israel/Occupied Palestine four times in the past six years, I can attest to the brutality of the Israeli military occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Having passed through the checkpoints, having stayed with both Christian and Muslim Palestinians, having seen demolished houses and destroyed olive trees, and seeing how the Wall separates Palestinians from their fields and from their mosques, schools, health clinics, I can only conclude that the Israeli military commits on a daily basis gross violations of the human and civil rights of Palestinians. Much of the violence is fueled by this cruel and ugly occupation and by how Palestinians are degraded, demonized, and dehumanized by the Israeli government and its military and police. Change must come, change will come, for as Martin Luther King stated: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” And, someday, so it shall be.

William Thomas commented
2016-06-17 13:57:21 -0400

As a Veteran for Peace who has visited Israel/Occupied Palestine four times in the past six years, I can attest to the brutality of the Israeli military occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Having passed through the checkpoints, having stayed with both Christian and Muslim Palestinians, having seen demolished houses and destroyed olive trees, and seeing how the Wall separates Palestinians from their fields and from their mosques, schools, health clinics, I can only conclude that the Israeli military commits on a daily basis gross violations of the human and civil rights of Palestinians. Much of the violence is fueled by this cruel and ugly occupation and by how Palestinians are degraded, demonized, and dehumanized by the Israeli government and its military and police. Change must come, change will come, for as Martin Luther King stated: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” And, someday, so it shall be.

Robert Kastner followed this page
2016-06-17 13:27:21 -0400

Amy Harlib commented
2016-06-17 13:21:03 -0400

Well said!

ignasi orobitg gene commented
2016-06-17 13:02:45 -0400

apartheid can last for years but it is temporary

skip schiel commented
2016-06-17 12:55:52 -0400

this is what i wrote to the two platform committees:

TESTIMONY TO THEDEMOCRATANDREPUBLICANPLATFORMCOMMITTEESABOUTPALESTINIANRIGHTS

June 16, 2016
Skip Schiel
skipschiel@gmail.com

I’m a photographer working regularly in Palestine-Israel since 2003 so much of what I write here is based on my personal experience. I’ve risked arrest from the Israeli Army and Border Police for non-violent activities, experienced the checkpoints, been blocked from access to Gaza to visit my friends and colleagues, and worried constantly when entering and leaving the country that I’d be detained and deported as a security risk.

Based on this experience I call for the platform committee to finally give full attention to Palestinian rights, most particularly freedom—to travel, develop an economy, and practice politics—and justice according to international law. In short to live a normal life. Mahmoud Darwish, the legendary Palestinian poet, said, “All we want is to be normal.”

In addition I ask the party to support BDS, boycott-divest-sanction, or at least resist the current wave of its criminalization. BDS is non violent, intended only at requiring Israel abide by international law and end the occupation and siege. It has been used by various movements in the USA including the Freedom Movement and the Farm Workers Movement and in India by Gandhi to gain full freedom from Great Britain. The right to practice BDS is based on the Bill of Rights, in particular Amendment 1 guaranteeing freedom of speech and petition of the government for a redress of grievances.

Finally, I request the suspension of all military aid to Israel until it complies with our laws governing such aid (notably the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, the Leahy Law, and the Arms Export Control Act of 1976) and international law.